McCain Attacks Obama For "Bitter" Comments In Pennsylvania

Senator John McCain attacked Barack Obama on Tuesday for having a condescending opinion of working class Americans, evoking his rival's infamous "bitter" comments in the state where the first surfaced.

Speaking to a crowd in York, Pennsylvania, McCain, at the close of his question-and-answer session, offered a non-too-subtle dig at his political opponent.

"I'm going to campaign hard in this state. I'm going to stop in town by town across this state. I'm going to talk to the people," said the Arizona Republican. And I'm going to tell them that I don't believe they cherish their second amendment rights and their religion because they are bitter or angry about the economy. I'm going to tell them that I think they are the heartland of America and the Judeo-Christian values that they hold dear are the strength of America."

The presumptive Republican nominee has evoked Obama's "bitter" comments before. In the days after the Illinois Democrat told a fundraising crowd in San Francisco that voters "cling" to guns and religion as political issues because their economic struggles are not being addressed, McCain was quick to the punch.

But deploying the attack to a crowd in Pennsylvania carries with it particular significance. In the state's Democratic primary, Senator Hillary Clinton jumped on Obama's bitter comment as evidence that he was politically and emotionally out of touch. Indeed, it was in Pennsylvania that the Senator's alleged working-class whites problem first became an obsession of the punditry and press.

The subsequent defeat Obama suffered in the primary led some observers to predict that he would have similar difficulties in the general election. So far, polling shows that he is well positioned to pick off the state. But McCain, in his Tuesday town hall, predicted a nail-biter.

"I think we are going to be up late on election night, I'm the underdog in this race. I'm the underdog and I love being the underdog," he said. "But we are going to be up late in this night and I think you are going to hear the commentators say we are waiting for Pennsylvania, as Pennsylvania has been a battleground state in all elections in recent memory."

Comments

[Pyott]

Obama isn't as out-of-line as his critics would like us to believe.

Most of Obama's “bitter” quote simply refers to a genuinely identifiable subculture one actually CAN observe, in this country. The traits he enumerates often do tend to coincide with each other, appearing more heavily in some communities (e.g., smaller more outlying towns, rural communities) than in others. They’re [1] generally conservative, [2] gun owning/using, [3] religious, [4] anti-immigrant, and [5] anti-trade, in terms of their worldviews.

Of course, the controversy lies in Obama’s impolitic use of the word, "cling," accompanied by the phrase, “[…] as a way to explain their frustratio­ns.” Few people enjoy being portrayed as vulnerable, bitter, or foolish.

Contrary to MCCAIN’s recent assertions, however, there was nothing in Obama’s speech to suggest he was speaking out of hatred or condescension – anymore than when he said black fathers are “missing from too many lives and too many homes” and “have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men.” (Apparently, criticism is only condescending or hateful when the object is a more traditionally Republican-leaning constituency, rather than a Democratic-leaning one.)

But there is a far more crucial question which arises from all of this that no one seems to have bothered to touch upon:

Why IS it that the most irrational and mean-spirited expressions of anti-immigrant sentiment generally seem to come from the SAME handful of demographic groups?

[PghDemocrat]

I'm going to campaign hard in this state. I'm going to stop in town by town across this state. I'm going to talk to the people," said the Arizona Republican.

He can skip my town - my fairly large town that sits in the far southwestern part of the state. Actually, I take that back. Senator M, stop on by. I have a few straightforward questions I would like to ask you. You promise to give equally straightforward answers, right? Little topics I find important - the rights I have as a female, the money they keeps leaving my bank account to support your buddies and your wars, and the small fact that I pass veterans everyday as I cross the bridge to work begging and without homes.

[Independent voter]

Nice work Clinton.

[JXJASON]

I live in Pennsylvania and I am bitter about George Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield, the republicans who support Bush, OPEC, BIG OIL COMPANIES and the neocons. I am also ANGRY with them.

I will not vote for any Republicans and I support Senator Obama. I am white, middle class, Catholic, educated, and 65 years old.

I want honesty back in Washington. I lost my respect for John McCain when he started to lie in order to win the election.

OBAMA 08

[PAposter]

Even my republican friends here in PA are not voting for McCain. They have seen and heard and suffered enough.

OBAMA '08

[Whinger]

What kind of a "leader" is it that has to be told what to say?

"A great leader achieves greatness on a daily basis, he inspires, informs and establishes purpose, and creates a strategy that includes taking risk and follow-up plans"

This is not Flip Flop McCain, he never was or ever will be a leader!

[SSF]

John and Cindy; with 200 million dollars in the bank and a habit of collecting million-dollar beach front condos like baseball cards, can truly "relate" to Working-Class people!

[wdw101]

what is wrong with collecting condos....­...everybo­dy needs a hobby or two

[robeson]

It's extremely difficult not to be bitter sitting across from Nash McCabe. How could our educational system produce this?

[ex-pat]

I was born in Pennsylvania and after reading this article I am bitter
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/13/opinion/13friedman.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[Beninn]

Tragically, like Mc, voters won't realize that these attacks have been done already, by the CIint0ns. Yes, the American voting public is that stupid.

[hydenorhare]

Oh geez. Is that yet ANOTHER of O's rules Governing Criticism By Media and Opposition?

You can't repeat anything He's said?
Let me check.
Nope, It's already there.
The general ...
1) No fair repeating what I say when you know it wasn't written for me ahead of time. I always screw stuff like that up.
and the more explicit ...
7) No more "elite" stuff thrown back in my face.

[donaldw6]

Actually, there's only one rule: No inane and fatuous comments.

Looks like you've stepped out of line yet again.

[robeson]

The one Obama rule you missed hydenorhare is that you must comprehend the English language.

[SpaceCadet]

Americans aren't bitter. They're a nation of whiners, because McCain's principal economic adviser, Phil Gramm, said so. Obama should make some ads reminding voters of that.

[All4One08]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivroxPyG-IE&feature=PlayList&p=EDC2B06FFBDF41B6&index=0

[BeltwayBette]

Why McCain is not "ready to lead"

Every day before November 4th, voters should be reminded:
McCain has been a staunch supporter of the war in Iraq;
McCain falsely claims that, from the war's beginning, he called on Rumsfeld to resign. Not True.
McCain: "It's not too important" when American forces return from Iraq.;
McCain claims Iran was training al-Qaeda members in Iraq, not understanding the war's key players. He doesn’t understand the difference between Shiites and Sunnis.
McCain falsely claims the surge led to the Anbar Awakening, even though Sunni's revolted against al-Qaeda there months before Bush announced the surge;
McCain falsely claimed at the end of May that American troops in Iraq were down to "pre-surge levels" although two-thirds of surge troops were still in Iraq. He refuses to admit he was wrong.
McCain falsely claims the war in Iraq was "the first major conflict since 9/11" -- ignoring the war in Afghanistan . While his pollicies there -- the real central front in the war on terror -- have been all over the map. McCain first attacked Obama's policy on Afghanistan, then adopted it for himself.
McCain sayes he supports America's troops but votes against their interests. He vocally worked to defeat the new GI Bill; once passed, he tried to take credit for it.
Do you want a president who thinks there's an "Iraq/Pakistan border"? Or that Czechoslovakia is still a country? Or who pleads "senior moments” ?
A military vet for Obama

[GrainOSand]

Regards Bette and thanks for your efforts at adding details to what is already verifiable from thirty thousand feet. Your swoop-in over the McCain leadership landscape just reveals the degree to which he is wrong for America. Only a general study in failure is afforded at the distance or altitude of ones' gut feelings. McCain fails to inspire one to want to know more or to want to dig deeper on his claims of greatness because at a distance you can see he is lying. McCain's opposition to the MLK holiday sealed the deal for many long ago concerning his humanity and "potential" efficacy as a leader. He is a leader -- NOT. That is the judgment because he opposed acknowledging love as something worthy of being remembered at least one day a year where it should be the guiding principle everyday for a nation claiming greatness. But it seems that winning, greed, and me-ism are the ruling principles in this place.

Keep hammering the point that McCain is the wrong choice (since “some” of the media chooses not to present this side of the story in their zeal to defame Obama). The millions of voices from all quarters, speaking in unison on this point are definitely having an effect. It is almost becoming a chant or a meditation that is becoming audible on the winds of change. The electorate is forever changed by this process no matter the outcome.

[AnnieinOR]

seven homes, and 500 dollar loafers, a plane to get around town is the only way to go....

[Daly]

makes me bitter

[ebonyjsg]

McCain only wishes! And McCain lately has been showing his true devisive colors! I pray the Pennsylvania people do not fall for his devisive ways!